U.S. patent application number 12/421895 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-14 for vacuum accumulator system and method for regenerative braking system.
Invention is credited to Dale Scott Crombez, John McCormick, Gunnar Ross.
Application Number | 20100257852 12/421895 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42933233 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100257852 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McCormick; John ; et
al. |
October 14, 2010 |
Vacuum Accumulator System and Method for Regenerative Braking
System
Abstract
A vacuum accumulator system includes a booster, a vacuum
accumulator disposed in fluid communication with the booster and an
engine disposed in fluid communication with the vacuum
accumulator.
Inventors: |
McCormick; John; (US)
; Ross; Gunnar; (Livonia, MI) ; Crombez; Dale
Scott; (Livonia, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TUNG & ASSOCIATES
838 WEST LONG LAKE, SUITE 120
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48302
US
|
Family ID: |
42933233 |
Appl. No.: |
12/421895 |
Filed: |
April 10, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
60/327 ; 60/397;
60/411; 60/412 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60W 10/30 20130101;
B60W 10/06 20130101; B60T 1/10 20130101; B60T 17/02 20130101; B60T
13/52 20130101; B60W 30/18127 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
60/327 ; 60/397;
60/411; 60/412 |
International
Class: |
B60T 13/52 20060101
B60T013/52; B60T 17/02 20060101 B60T017/02 |
Claims
1. A vacuum accumulator system, comprising: a booster; a vacuum
accumulator disposed in fluid communication with said booster; and
an engine disposed in fluid communication with said vacuum
accumulator.
2. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 1 further comprising a
vacuum pump disposed in fluid communication with said booster.
3. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 2 further comprising a
vacuum pump check valve between said vacuum pump and said
booster.
4. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 2 further comprising an
accumulator vacuum conduit connecting said vacuum accumulator and
said booster, an engine vacuum conduit connecting said engine and
said vacuum accumulator and a pump vacuum conduit connecting said
vacuum pump and said booster.
5. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 4 further comprising an
engine vacuum conduit check valve provided in said engine vacuum
conduit and a vacuum accumulator check valve provided in said
accumulator vacuum conduit.
6. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 4 further comprising a
vacuum pump check valve provided in said pump vacuum conduit.
7. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 4 further comprising a
connecting vacuum conduit connecting said engine vacuum conduit and
said accumulator vacuum conduit.
8. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 7 further comprising a
connecting conduit check valve provided in said connecting vacuum
conduit.
9. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 1 further comprising a
vacuum accumulator check valve between said vacuum accumulator and
said booster.
10. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 1 further comprising a
vacuum conduit check valve between said engine and said vacuum
accumulator.
11. A vacuum accumulator system, comprising: a booster; a pump
vacuum conduit disposed in fluid communication with said booster; a
vacuum pump disposed in fluid communication with said pump vacuum
conduit; a vacuum accumulator disposed in fluid communication with
said pump vacuum conduit; and an engine disposed in fluid
communication with said vacuum accumulator.
12. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 11 further comprising a
vacuum accumulator check valve between said vacuum accumulator and
said pump vacuum conduit.
13. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 11 further comprising a
check valve between said engine and said vacuum accumulator.
14. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 13 further comprising an
engine vacuum conduit connecting said engine and said vacuum
accumulator and wherein said engine vacuum conduit check valve is
provided in said engine vacuum conduit.
15. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 14 further comprising a
connecting vacuum conduit connecting said engine vacuum conduit and
said pump vacuum conduit.
16. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 15 further comprising a
connecting conduit check valve provided in said connecting vacuum
conduit.
17. The vacuum accumulator system of claim 16 further comprising a
diverting vacuum conduit connecting said connecting vacuum conduit
and said pump vacuum conduit.
18. A vacuum accumulator method, comprising: operating an engine;
storing and accumulating excess engine vacuum pressure from said
engine; operating a booster; and distributing said excess engine
vacuum pressure from said engine to said booster.
19. The vacuum accumulator method of claim 18 further comprising
operating a vacuum pump and distributing pump vacuum pressure from
said vacuum pump to said booster.
20. The vacuum accumulator of claim 19 further comprising reducing
operational time of said vacuum pump in proportion to said excess
engine vacuum pressure.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to regenerative braking
systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a
vacuum accumulator system and method in which vacuum pump energy
consumption is reduced by storing and using excess engine vacuum
pressure in a regenerative braking system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] To improve fuel economy, some types of vehicles such as
hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) may provide regenerative (regen)
braking, in which kinetic energy is converted by an electric
machine into storable energy during braking and then made available
for propulsion. In regenerative braking systems, a booster may use
vacuum pressure which is generated by a vacuum pump to increase
mechanical regenerative braking power. The vacuum pump used in a
regenerative braking system, however, may consume unacceptable
quantities of energy. Therefore, a vacuum accumulator system and
method is needed in which the run time of a vacuum pump, and
consequently, energy consumption of the pump, is reduced by the
storage and use of excess engine vacuum pressure to augment the
vacuum pressure which is distributed to the booster in a
regenerative braking system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present disclosure is generally directed to a vacuum
accumulator system. An illustrative embodiment of the vacuum
accumulator system includes a booster, a vacuum accumulator
disposed in fluid communication with the booster and an engine
disposed in fluid communication with the vacuum accumulator.
[0004] The present disclosure is further generally directed to a
vacuum accumulator method. An illustrative embodiment of the vacuum
accumulator method includes operating an engine, storing and
accumulating excess engine vacuum pressure from the engine,
operating a booster and distributing the excess engine vacuum
pressure from the engine to the booster.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of
the vacuum accumulator system for regenerative braking power;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an alternative illustrative
embodiment of the vacuum accumulator system for regenerative
braking power; and
[0008] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram which illustrates an illustrative
embodiment of a vacuum accumulator method for a regenerative
braking system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in
nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or
the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used
herein, the word "exemplary" or "illustrative" means "serving as an
example, instance, or illustration." Any implementation described
herein as "exemplary" or "illustrative" is not necessarily to be
construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.
All of the implementations described below are exemplary
implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to
make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended
to limit the scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, there is no
intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented
in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the
following detailed description.
[0010] Referring initially to FIG. 1, an illustrative embodiment of
the vacuum accumulator system is generally indicated by reference
numeral 1. The vacuum accumulator system 1 includes an engine 2
which may be that of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), for example
and without limitation. The engine 2 has a vacuum outlet 2a. An
engine vacuum conduit 3 is disposed in fluid communication with the
vacuum outlet 2a of the engine 2 and is adapted to transfer engine
vacuum pressure 5 from the engine 2 during operation of the engine
2. The engine vacuum pressure 5 may be generated in the intake
manifold (not shown) of the engine 2 during operation of the engine
2.
[0011] A vacuum accumulator 8 has an accumulator inlet 8a which is
disposed in fluid communication with the engine vacuum conduit 3.
An accumulator vacuum conduit 9 is disposed in fluid communication
with an accumulator outlet 8b of the vacuum accumulator 8. A
booster 20 is disposed in fluid communication with the accumulator
vacuum conduit 9. In some applications, the booster 20 may be part
of a regenerative braking system (not shown) of an HEV or other
vehicle. The vacuum accumulator 8 is adapted to store and
accumulate the engine vacuum pressure 5 which is received from the
engine 2 through the engine vacuum conduit 3 during operation of
the engine 2. Under circumstances in which the booster 20 requires
booster vacuum pressure 24 for operation, the accumulator vacuum
conduit 9 is adapted to distribute accumulator vacuum pressure 11
from the accumulator outlet 8b of the accumulator 8 to the booster
20. An engine vacuum conduit check valve 4 may be provided in the
engine vacuum conduit 3 to prevent dissipation of accumulator
vacuum pressure 11 in the vacuum accumulator 8 through the engine
vacuum conduit 3. A vacuum accumulator check valve 10 may be
provided in the accumulator vacuum conduit 9 to prevent dissipation
of booster vacuum pressure 24 in the booster 20 through the
accumulator vacuum conduit 9.
[0012] A vacuum pump 14 has a vacuum pump outlet 14a which is
connected to the booster 20 through a pump vacuum conduit 15. A
booster check valve 21 may be provided at the connecting interface
between the pump vacuum conduit 15 and the booster 20 maintain
vacuum pressure in the booster 20 in the event that the pump vacuum
conduit 15 is inadvertently disconnected from the booster 20. The
pump vacuum conduit 15 is adapted to distribute pump vacuum
pressure 17 from the vacuum pump outlet 14a of the vacuum pump 14.
The accumulator vacuum conduit 9 may be connected to the pump
vacuum conduit 15. In the accumulator vacuum conduit 9, the
accumulator vacuum pressure 11 from the vacuum accumulator 8 may
augment the pump vacuum pressure 17 from the vacuum pump 14 to form
the booster vacuum pressure 24. A vacuum accumulator check valve 10
may be provided in the accumulator vacuum conduit 9 to prevent
dissipation of the accumulator vacuum pressure 11 in the
accumulator vacuum conduit 9. A vacuum pump check valve 16 may
optionally be provided in the pump vacuum conduit 15 to prevent
dissipation of the pump vacuum pressure 17 in the pump vacuum
conduit 15.
[0013] In some embodiments, a connecting vacuum conduit 30 may
optionally connect the pump vacuum conduit 15 to the engine vacuum
conduit 3. A bypass conduit 32 (shown in phantom) may optionally
connect the pump vacuum conduit 15, at a point between the vacuum
pump outlet 14a and the vacuum pump check valve 16, to the
connecting vacuum conduit 30. A connecting conduit check valve 31
may be provided in the connecting vacuum conduit 30 to prevent
dissipation of pump vacuum pressure 17 in the connecting vacuum
conduit 30. Accordingly, multiple configurations of the vacuum
accumulator system 1 are possible with regard to the presence or
absence of the connecting conduit check valve 31 in the connecting
conduit 30 and/or the vacuum pump check valve 16 in the pump vacuum
conduit 15. In a first configuration, both the vacuum pump check
valve 16 and the connecting conduit check valve 31, with the
connecting conduit 30 and the bypass conduit 32, may be omitted
from the vacuum accumulator system 1. In a second configuration,
the vacuum pump check valve 16 may be provided in the pump vacuum
conduit 15 while the connecting conduit check valve 31, the
connecting conduit 30 and the bypass conduit 32 may be omitted from
the vacuum accumulator system 1. In a third configuration, the
vacuum pump check valve 16 may be omitted from the pump vacuum
conduit 15 while the connecting vacuum conduit 30 and the
connecting conduit check valve 31 may be provided in the vacuum
accumulator system 1. In a fourth configuration, both the vacuum
pump check valve 16 may be provided in the pump vacuum conduit 15
and the connecting conduit check valve 31 may be provided in the
connecting vacuum conduit 30, while the bypass conduit 32 connects
the pump vacuum conduit 15 to the connecting vacuum conduit 30 at a
point between the vacuum pump outlet 14a of the vacuum pump 14 and
the vacuum pump check valve 16. In a fifth configuration, both the
vacuum pump check valve 16 may be provided in the pump vacuum
conduit 15 and the connecting conduit check valve 31 may be
provided in the connecting vacuum conduit 30, while the bypass
conduit 32 is omitted; in that case, the connecting vacuum conduit
30 is connected to the pump vacuum conduit 15 between the vacuum
pump check valve 16 and the booster check valve 21.
[0014] In typical operation of the vacuum accumulator system 1,
during operation of the engine 2, engine vacuum pressure 5 is
applied to the vacuum accumulator 8 through the engine vacuum
conduit 3. Throughout operation of the engine 2, the vacuum
accumulator 8 stores and accumulates the engine vacuum pressure 5,
forming the accumulator vacuum pressure 11. The accumulator vacuum
conduit 9 distributes the accumulator vacuum pressure 11 from the
accumulator outlet 8b of the accumulator 8 to the pump vacuum
conduit 15. Under circumstances in which the booster 20 requires
booster vacuum pressure 24 for operation of the regeneration
braking system (not shown), the vacuum pump 14 may be operated to
generate the pump vacuum pressure 17 which is added to the
accumulator vacuum pressure 11 from the accumulator vacuum conduit
9 in the pump vacuum conduit 15. The resulting booster vacuum
pressure 24 is applied to the booster 20 through the terminal
segment of the accumulator vacuum conduit 9. Because the booster
vacuum pressure 24 includes both the accumulator vacuum pressure 11
which is received from the vacuum accumulator 8 and the pump vacuum
pressure 17 which is received from the vacuum pump 14 (and may
further include engine vacuum pressure 5 from the connecting vacuum
conduit 30), the booster 20 need not be limited to operation by the
pump vacuum pressure 17. Thus, the operational run time of the
vacuum pump 14 may be reduced in order to conserve power while
maintaining the necessary booster vacuum pressure 24 for optimum
operation of the booster 20. Furthermore, the accumulator vacuum
pressure 11 from the vacuum accumulator 8 may be available under
circumstances in which the engine 2 is turned off. In applications
in which the vacuum pump check valve 16 is provided in the pump
vacuum conduit 15 and the connecting vacuum conduit 30, the
connecting conduit check valve 31 and the bypass conduit 32 are
omitted from the vacuum accumulator system 1, the vacuum pump check
valve 16 may prevent dissipation of vacuum pressure in the pump
vacuum conduit 15.
[0015] In applications in which the vacuum pump check valve 16 is
omitted from the pump vacuum conduit 15, the connecting conduit 30
connects the pump vacuum conduit 15 to the engine vacuum conduit 3
and the connecting conduit check valve 31 is provided in the
connecting conduit 30, the connecting conduit check valve 31 may
open when the pump vacuum pressure 17 in the connecting vacuum
conduit 30 exceeds a predetermined value (such as 0.7 bar, for
example and without limitation). The connecting vacuum conduit 30
with connecting conduit check valve 31 may enable the vacuum pump
14 to evacuate the accumulator 8 after the pump vacuum pressure 17
which is initially applied to the booster 20 has reached the
predetermined value (such as 0.7 bar, for example and without
limitation).
[0016] In applications in which the bypass conduit 32 connects the
connecting conduit 30 with the pump vacuum conduit 15 at a point
which is between the vacuum pump outlet 14a and the vacuum pump
check valve 16, pump vacuum pressure 17 may be distributed from the
pump vacuum conduit 15 to the connecting vacuum conduit 30 upstream
of the vacuum pump check valve 16. In applications in which the
bypass conduit 32 is omitted, the pump vacuum pressure 17 leaves
the pump vacuum conduit 15 downstream of the vacuum pump check
valve 16.
[0017] Referring next to FIG. 2, another alternative illustrative
embodiment of the vacuum accumulator system is generally indicated
by reference numeral la. The vacuum accumulator system la may
include a connecting vacuum conduit 26 which connects the engine
vacuum conduit 3 to the pump vacuum conduit 15. A connecting
conduit check valve 27 may be provided in the connecting vacuum
conduit 26. The accumulator vacuum conduit 9 may connect the
accumulator outlet 8b of the vacuum accumulator 8 to the pump
vacuum conduit 15.
[0018] In some embodiments, a connecting vacuum conduit 30 may
optionally connect the pump vacuum conduit 15 to the engine vacuum
conduit 3. A bypass conduit 32 (shown in phantom) may optionally
connect the pump vacuum conduit 15 to the connecting vacuum conduit
30 between the vacuum pump outlet 14a and the vacuum pump check
valve 16. A connecting conduit check valve 31 may be provided in
the connecting vacuum conduit 30 to prevent dissipation of combined
engine/pump vacuum pressure 18 in the connecting vacuum conduit 30.
Accordingly, multiple configurations of the vacuum accumulator
system la are possible with regard to the presence or absence of
the connecting conduit check valve 31 in the connecting conduit 30
and/or the vacuum pump check valve 16 in the pump vacuum conduit
15. In a first configuration, both the vacuum pump check valve 16
and the connecting conduit check valve 31, with the connecting
conduit 30 and the bypass conduit 32, may be omitted from the
vacuum accumulator system 1. In a second configuration, the vacuum
pump check valve 16 may be provided in the pump vacuum conduit 15
while the connecting conduit check valve 31, the connecting conduit
30 and the bypass conduit 32 may be omitted from the vacuum
accumulator system 1. In a third configuration, the vacuum pump
check valve 16 may be omitted from the pump vacuum conduit 15 while
the connecting vacuum conduit 30 and the connecting conduit check
valve 31 may be provided in the vacuum accumulator system 1. In a
fourth configuration, both the vacuum pump check valve 16 may be
provided in the pump vacuum conduit 15 and the connecting conduit
check valve 31 may be provided in the connecting vacuum conduit 30,
while the bypass conduit 32 connects the pump vacuum conduit 15 to
the connecting vacuum conduit 30 at a point between the vacuum pump
outlet 14a of the vacuum pump 14 and the vacuum pump check valve
16. In a fifth configuration, both the vacuum pump check valve 16
may be provided in the pump vacuum conduit 15 and the connecting
conduit check valve 31 may be provided in the connecting vacuum
conduit 30, while the bypass conduit 32 is omitted; in that case,
the pump vacuum conduit 15 is connected to the connecting vacuum
conduit 30 between the vacuum pump check valve 16 and the booster
check valve 21.
[0019] In typical operation of the vacuum accumulator system la,
during operation of the engine 2, engine vacuum pressure 5 is
distributed through the engine vacuum conduit 3 into the
accumulator inlet 8a of the vacuum accumulator 8. Throughout
operation of the engine 2, the vacuum accumulator 8 accumulates the
engine vacuum pressure 5, forming the accumulator vacuum pressure
11. Also throughout operation of the engine 2, engine vacuum
pressure 5 is simultaneously distributed from the engine vacuum
conduit 3 to the pump vacuum conduit 15 through the connecting
vacuum conduit 26.
[0020] Under circumstances in which the booster 20 requires booster
vacuum pressure 24 for operation of the regeneration braking system
(not shown), the accumulator vacuum conduit 9 distributes the
accumulator vacuum pressure 11 from the accumulator outlet 8b of
the accumulator 8 to the pump vacuum conduit 15. The vacuum pump 14
may simultaneously be operated to generate pump vacuum pressure 17
which augments the engine vacuum pressure 5 from the connecting
vacuum conduit 26 to form combined engine/pump vacuum pressure 18.
In the pump vacuum conduit 15, the accumulator vacuum pressure 11
from the accumulator vacuum conduit 9 may augment the combined
engine/pump vacuum pressure 18 to form the booster vacuum pressure
24. Accordingly, the operational run time of the vacuum pump 14 can
be reduced in order to conserve power while maintaining the
necessary booster vacuum pressure 24 for optimum operation of the
booster 20. In applications in which the vacuum pump check valve 16
is provided in the pump vacuum conduit 15 and the connecting vacuum
conduit 30, the connecting conduit check valve 31 and the bypass
conduit 32 are omitted from the vacuum accumulator system 1, the
vacuum pump check valve 16 may prevent dissipation of vacuum
pressure in the pump vacuum conduit 15.
[0021] In applications in which the vacuum pump check valve 16 is
omitted from the pump vacuum conduit 15 and the connecting conduit
30 connects the pump vacuum conduit 15 and the engine vacuum
conduit 3 and the connecting conduit check valve 31 is provided in
the connecting conduit 30, the connecting conduit check valve 31
may open when the pump vacuum pressure 17 in the connecting vacuum
conduit 30 exceeds a predetermined value (such as 0.7 bar, for
example and without limitation). The connecting vacuum conduit 30
with connecting conduit check valve 31 may enable the vacuum pump
14 to evacuate the accumulator 8 after the pump vacuum pressure 17
initially applied to the booster 20 has reached the predetermined
value (such as 0.7 bar, for example and without limitation). In
applications in which the bypass conduit 32 connects the pump
vacuum conduit 15 with the connecting conduit 30 at a point which
is between the vacuum pump outlet 14a and the vacuum pump check
valve 16, pump vacuum pressure 17 may be distributed from the
connecting vacuum conduit 30 to the pump vacuum conduit 15 upstream
of the vacuum pump check valve 16. In applications in which the
bypass conduit 32 is omitted, the pump vacuum pressure 17 enters
the connecting vacuum conduit 30 downstream of the vacuum pump
check valve 16.
[0022] Referring next to FIG. 4, a flow diagram 400 which
illustrates an illustrative embodiment of a vacuum accumulator
method for a regenerative braking system is shown. In block 402, an
engine is operated. In block 404, excess engine vacuum pressure
from the engine is stored and accumulated. In block 406, a vacuum
pump is operated. In block 408, a booster of a braking system is
operated. In block 410, pump vacuum pressure is distributed from
the vacuum pump to the booster. In block 412, accumulated excess
engine vacuum pressure is distributed to the booster. In block 414,
the operational time or duration of the vacuum pump is reduced in
proportion to the magnitude of excess engine vacuum pressure which
is distributed to the booster in block 412.
[0023] While the preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been
described above, it will be recognized and understood that various
modifications can be made and the appended claims are intended to
cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and
scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *